My Current Question

People say that a persons true character is revealed when they are thrown into bad situations. Like when they are in danger or (more apt to my situation) when their temper is tested. I recently had to come across a situation when my nerves were boiling and I was at a loss on how to react. I first thought of ignoring the uncivil message sent my an old foe. And did do just that for a short amount of time, but my temper got the better of me. As a usual habit of mine, I will not take injustice done to me when I have done nothing wrong. And this unruly message accused me of having done something wrong while I was convinced I had not. At the moment I had decide to ignore it, I thought that the person vented out their anger and if I don't reply that would be the end of it. But somewhere along the short while I did ignore, I got a sudden upsurge of nerves and I had to set things clear. I sent this person a reply that consisted of a clear explanation in a rather rude manner of to clear it out. So here is the question. Is it right for one to always keep there composure and never be rude ever when aggravated or do you give people what they deserve by being rude?